It’s December and it’s starting to get cold here in Michigan. Many of us have a few weeks left in our season and we’re not ready to give up on the buck of our dreams. As we shift to hunting more evening food sources, we’ve got to take one major late-season factor into consideration: the cold.

Staying comfortable, especially in the late season, can be the difference between success and eating tag soup. If you’re looking to put a deer down, here are a few of the ways I use to stay warm in the stand.

First and foremost, proper layering is critical. Our layering system is pretty simple: base layers, insulation layers, shell. I’m a huge proponent of merino wool, especially as a next-to-skin layer. Merino pulls moisture away from your body but traps in heat well. Plus, it doesn’t hold on to human odor. I’ll typically walk out to our stand in just our base layers and throw on clothes once I get to my tree. I’ve found that it’s best to be a little chilly on the walk out, rather than getting nice and sweaty. Once I get to the stand, toss on your insulation and shell layers and your body won’t have to deal with cold sweat.

Blocking the wind is also critical to staying warm. No matter how nicely your clothes are insulating you, if you don’t block the wind you’re going to get cold. It’ll cut through your non-wind blocking layers and sap the heat away. Wind blockers take many forms - sometimes puffy jackets do a good job of cutting the wind, other times a good shell will do it. Do some research and find a wind cutting layer that fits your style, you won’t regret it.

Chemical heat packs are another essential ingredient to staying warm in cold hunts. Not all are created equal, however. Look for the kind that lasts longer - I’ve found the 18-hour Super Warmers to be a great choice. Also, don’t overlook the muscle heat pads (this commercial always comes to mind). They’re big and stay warm for a long time.

Finally, fuel your body to keep warm. Eating and hydrating on stand is a great way to keep your body temperature up. Remember, your body is your primary heat source when you’re hunting. Fuel it and keep it running warm. I’ll eat before heading out to get our metabolism started and will eat at regular intervals throughout the sit. Keep the foods high in calories - especially fat, protein and simple sugars. I’ll also bring some hot tea and some water to sip on throughout the sit.

Don’t be the guy who has to leave the stand early because you got too cold. Use these tips and go get that buck!

For a great bonus tip on staying warm, check out this video by our friends from Whitetail Experience.

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